164
anything.’
S1:
Yeah, I was like that last year.
The best thing is to organise your
files, using colour codes and labels
– so you can find things easily.
I don’t have any trouble any more.
T:
Thanks, Riz. So … these things
show how important it is to be
well-organised. OK, let’s take
another problem. This one says:
‘I sometimes study for a long time,
but I don’t feel I’m learning
anything. I read the material, but
nothing’s happening – it’s not
going in.’ Right. Has anyone got
any suggestions? Yes, Tim.
S3:
Basically, it isn’t a good idea to
study for long periods at a time
without a break. It’s better to do a
little at a time.
T:
That’s right. Be nice to yourselves!
When you finish something – an
essay, for example – give
yourselves a break, do something
for fun: go for a walk, or watch a
film. This can make you work
better before and after the break.
And another thing – it’s important
that you can concentrate on your
studies. You can’t work well when
the phone’s ringing every five
minutes. Don’t forget, too, it’s
important to know when you study
best. Do you study best in the
morning, in the afternoon, in the
evening or late at night?
Everybody’s different. We need to
study at a time that suits us.
S4:
Oh, that’s interesting. I have never
thought of that.
S5:
Yeah, maybe some people study at
the wrong time of day for their
body clock.
T:
OK, let’s take another one …
‘I can’t finish all the things I need
to do in the day.’
S1&4:
Prioritise!
S4:
Yes, decide what you need to do
now, or later today, and what you
can leave until tomorrow, or even
next week.
T:
Yes, good. Remember too: maybe
there are some things that aren’t
important at all. It’s a bad idea to
waste time on them. And it’s
important to allow time for things
you don’t expect, and for
emergencies. Perhaps this is the
moment to say something about
making lists. You probably make
shopping lists of things you need
to buy. Make a list of things you
need to do as well. When you
reduce all the things to one piece
of paper, it doesn’t seem so
difficult. When you’ve done the
things on your list, cross them off.
It’s a nice feeling! However, be
realistic! Don’t put a lot of big
things on your list when you know
you can’t do them all. So, read one
chapter of your textbook instead of
three chapters. Putting smaller
things on your list means that you
can achieve them, and this makes
you feel good. All right, what’s the
next question?
AUDIO SCRIPTS
